This little chunk of Ryke's history was always meant to be in HF, but upon revising, we changed the scene and couldn't find a place for it. However, everything he says still applies to his personal story. So we thought we'd share it, especially since Thrive is coming up (July 18th), which spans the same time as HF as well as the month afterwards and the years prior :)

RYKE'S POV

I’ve been to a few of these socialite parties growing up, where affluent men and women open their wallets to help whatever charity. But I never went as Ryke Meadows: the son of Jonathan Hale, CEO of Hale Co. baby products. Or Ryke Meadows: the son of Sara Hale, divorced wife of Jonathan. Back then, my mom would set me up with a girl, saying "this is the son of my friend" and I’d go as the girl’s plus one.